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The Music Trade
Review
Piano Department of May Store in
Cleveland Extensively Remodeled
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The
Beautiful
New Piano
Salon
of
the
May
Co.
in
Cleveland
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LEVELAND, O., May 14.—The faith of the
K^j May Co. department store here in the
future of the piano business is evidenced by the
heavy investment made by the company in the
remodeling of its piano department, which work
has just been completed. The department is
now to be regarded as one of the most attrac-
tive in the country.
Heretofore the entire department was just
one large open space, but now this has all been
changed by the installation of a dozen com-
modious rooms walled in glass. Some of them
are fitted up as living rooms in particular styles,
which gives the purchaser an idea as how the
piano harmonizes with the surroundings. Others
again have three or four pianos in them with
appropriate backgrounds.
The entire department is artistic in every re-
spect and covers a large portion of the fourth
floor. The Hardman line of pianos, for which
the May Co. recently took the agency, is dis-
played to the fullest advantage. Deep carpets
cover the floors and color scheme, lighting and
drapes all blend harmoniously together.
Another innovation is the separating of the
new and used pianos, which previously were dis-
played on one floor. The used instruments are
now shown on the sixth floor in a new depart-
ment which is decorated in Spanish style and
is very attractive.
In connection with the formal opening there
was a daily program of music broadcast over
station WHK for one week. The artists in-
cluded the RCA Venetians, Majestic Trio, Utah
Girl and Radiotrope Mixed Quartet, P'ranklyn
Benjamin, Hardman artist. The programs were
broadcast from one of the rooms in the center
ef the department, and there was a large crowd
present each day. Many baskets of beautiful
flowers were sent by friends in the trade. Dan
Baumbaugh, manager of the entire music de-
partment, received many congratulations on its
beauty. A feature of the opening was an ad-
dress by Rexford C. Hyre, secretary of the
Cleveland Music Trades Association and the
Music Merchants' Association of Ohio. It was
broadcast by Station WHK.
The radio department of the company has
also been considerably enlarged. It adjoins the
piano department. Here are to be found the
leading makes of receivers. It is one of the
largest departments in the State.
New Presto Buyers' Guide
The thirty-second annual edition of the Pres-
to Buyers' Guide for 1929 has just been issued
by the Presto Publishing Co., of Chicago, and
this year, in addition to listing and classifying
manufacturers of pianos, player-pianos, etc.,
there is also a section devoted to the manufac-
turers of radio receiving sets.
l IK :.;..:I II; charge oi the entire musical mer-
chandise section is Dan Baumbaugh, who has
been with the May Co. for many years. He
is a member of both the city and State and
music trade associations and has a wide ac-
quaintance throughout the entire trade. Under
his management the music department of the
company has steadily grown until it is one of
the largest and most important in the store.
Columbia Records "Carmen"
by Electrical Process
Complete Opera on Fifteen
Double-Disc
Records and by Noted Artists Just Released
by Columbia Co.
The Columbia Phonograph Co. has just
placed on sale in America its first entire oper-
atic electrical recording, that of Carmen.
The recording, both vocal and instrumental,
is on fifteen double-disc 12-inch records, in
thirty parts, by singers of the Paris Opera and
the Opera Comique, with the Orchestre Sym-
phonique of Paris, conducted by Elie Cohen,
Chef d'Orchestre of the Paris Opera Comique.
Columbia has an exclusive recording contract
with these artists. It is entitled "Columbia
Operatic Series—No. 1," and is the first of a
projected series of similar presentations of en-
tire grand operas."
This operatic offering is reported to be Co-
lumbia's most outstanding event in recording
since it presented a year ago the first record-
ings ever made of the Bayreuth Wagner Fes-
tival.
Behning Piano in Church
Wins High Commendation
The Behning Piano Co., New York, recently
received the following interesting letter from
the Reverend E. H. Eggers, of the First Evan-
gelical-Lutheran Immanuel Congregation of
Seymour, Ind.
"The Sheraton grand piano we ordered from
you through your local representative arrived
in fine condition. We have now had the pleas-
ure of hearing it for several weeks, and want
to state that we are more than pleased with
the exquisite tone quality it possesses in every
part of the scale. With an instrument of this
kind a real musician can express every mood
and sentiment that the human soul is capable of
feeling. It has that wonderful sweetness of
tone which is lacking in so many instruments
and, at the same time, it is ready to produce a
mighty volume of robust and majestic harmony
so essential in bringing out certain effects. In-
closed I am sending you a check for the bal-
ance we owe you."
MAY 18, 1929
Sonora to Show New Models
at Coming Radio Conclave
Elaborate Exhibit Being Planned for Chicago
in June—To Include New Screen-Grid Sets
in Addition to Present Line
The Sonora Exhibit at the forthcoming
Radio Show at Chicago will include two new
ladio models, both employing the new four-
element, screen-grid tubes, according to an an-
nouncement by A. J. Kendrick, vice-president
of the Sonora Co.
"Sonora's two new models will be in addi-
tion to our present line of radios, Melodons and
Radio-Melodon combinations and will be in the
popular-price class, being designed to sell at
approximately $150 and $190, less tubes," said
M.\ Kendrick.
"The design of these sets calls for tuned an-
tenna and three stages of tuned radio amplifica-
tion employing the four-element screen-grid
tubes in conjunction with a power detector;
there will be one stage of audio frequency am-
plification utilizing the 245-type amplifier tube
in push-pull. While these models, like all
others in the Sonora line, are primarily de-
signed around Sonora tubes, certain modifica-
tions in the two new sets will allow the use
of other standard tubes in case of emergency.
"A variation in the shield-grid voltage in the
radio amplifier tubes, which will not affect any
change in the selectivity or the tone quality
of the instruments, will control the volume, and
a constant voltage supply to the receiver will
be assured by means of a new voltage regulator
of the highest efficiency.
"The radio equipment of the two new Sonora
models will be identical, but the cabinet de-
signs will differ; one will be an open-face
cabinet, and the other will be fitted with doors.
Both cabinets will be constructed of American
Sliced Walnut with contrasting front and side
panel overlays. We confidently anticipate be-
ing able to make production shipments on these
instruments early in August, in ample time for
all our distributors and dealers to be fully pre-
pared for the early Fall business.
"A substantial newspaper advertising policy
will be adopted for key cities all over the coun-
try, and we are already preparing special ad-
vertising plans for dealers.
"All indications point to a rapid acceptance
of Sonora's new products and a continued
steady demand for our present instruments,
leading us to anticipate substantially increased
business even over the high level which we
reached during the season now closing.
"The recent announcement of our plans to
appoint distributors to augment the work al-
ready being done by our branch offices in cer-
tain districts has attracted considerable atten-
tion, and we have already closed for a number
of territories; we are confident that this an-
nouncement of important additions to our line
will stimulate that interest and clinch Sonora's
already outstanding position both in the trade
and among the music-loving public."
Radio Store Speakers Not
to Be Barred in Cleveland
O-EVKLANI), O., May 11.—Radio dealers here are
permitted to advertise with horns, according to
a ruling of the City Council judiciary commit-
tee in killing an ordinance forbidding radio
horns adjacent to public thoroughfares. Charles
T. Sheldon, secretary of the Building Owners
& Managers Association, brought appeals from
merchants, physicians and theatre owners for
approval of the act. The committee, however,
ruled that the legislation was not only too
drastic, but would put the radio dealers out of
business.
Consult the Universal Want Directory of
The Review.